Educate Yourself About the Rock Pigeon and Other Pigeons
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
The Rock Pigeon has a dark bill with a large white spot, compact body with purple-green sheen to neck and breast, variable plumage color, some have double wingbars, and reddish-pink legs. Its size is 12-14in (30-36cm) Its wingspan is 25-27in (63-69cm)
Its voice is the low cooing of “ooor, ooor” or “o-roo-coo”, a very familiar sound in parks and streets. Their eggs are glossy white, and usually have two or more clutches, consisting of 2 eggs. Booth male and female incubates for about 16-19 days, and the fledging time is around 25-26 days. Both male and female feed their young. Male and female have many variable plumage colors.
There are not many birds that are as recognizable as the Rock Pigeons; you can see them on city and town sidewalks and in parks, all across North America, either feeding on handouts, or hanging around side walk cafés, begging for scraps of left over food. They are usually very tame, and are smart enough to approach certain people they recognize from earlier regular handouts, when they show up.
Now a day, you can find them nesting in urban canyons, and barnyards, in tall buildings, using windowsills, and also squeeze into roof top attics, rather than nesting in sea caves, as long as they have a food supply near by. As you know, they can become some what annoying and dirty up buildings and statues and what not, but yet with their friendly behavior, and pretty plumage, they will always be a nice addition to our cities, and give a chance for even the most urban-bound people to have a connection to wildlife.
Pigeons that live in the cities will look for anything that is edible; they will take some of their food from handouts in city parks, to French fries dropped on the ground from a side walk café, but will also look for food like insects and bugs, and green leaves. In rural areas they will feed on seeds of plants, and crops around barnyards, and feast on insects and other invertebrates.
The ancestors of Rock Pigeons are called Feral Pigeons, and once used to live in European sea cliffs, and like their wild ancestors they usually mate for life. Young Rock Pigeons spend their time in flocks, but pairs often live together all year around, and keep their nesting territories even when they are not breeding. They also will nest all year around, if the weather conditions so permits, but not as much during the winter months.
When the male starts his courtship, he will do so by driving the female away from the rest of the flock, and will perform a bowing ritual, or by flying close behind her when she takes off. They both participate in building of the nest which consist of twigs and grass, and will usually choose a hole in a building, or on a ledge. They both incubate the eggs, and feed their young, and continue to do so for about ten days after hatching and fledging. The Rock pigeon will feed their young entirely on so called “pigeon milk” which is a secretion from the crop, high in fat and protein.
There is something called the “Pigeon Watch”, witch is an international research project of scientific measures that involves both young and old “Pigeon Watchers”, where you can learn all about this friendly bird, and it has also proven to be crucial for research of all kinds of pigeons.
If you like to attract pigeons to your backyard or friendly bird feeding garden, put out cracked corn, and other mixed seeds, some bread crumbs will be greatly appreciated as well. Provide nest boxes with the entrance holes are 4in (10cm) in diameter. Go to our section on NEST BOXES AND SHELFS, to learn more. Always remember to provide fresh water, and clean birdbaths near by, and please make sure to keep your cat or your neighbor’s cat away from your feeding stations. Domestic cats do not usually hunt birds for feeding purposes, but more from instinct, and will torture and play with its prey for their own entertainment.
